Setts



(No Model.)

G. H. .UNDBRHILL au B, GLANTZB'ERG.

TEMPERATURE REGULATUR.

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G. H. UNDERHILL 8v E. GLANTZBERG-` y TEMPERATURE REGULATOR. No. 544,015. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

m QU I ma@ Y E E 3. 7@ M G R W M T/ 7m CVL H. a i O r Y L EL S E M K F E NETED STATES PATENT @EE-rca.,

GEORGE H. UNDERHILL AND ERNST GLANTZBERG, OE BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS; SAID GLANTZBERG AssIGNoR To SAID UNDEEHILL.

TEMPERATURE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N' o. 544,015,-dated August 6, 1895.

` Application filed November 17, 1893- Serial No. 491,213. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern: point within the range of the thermostat.

Be it known that we, GEORGE H. UNDER- Thus the temperature is perpetually chang- HILL, a citizen of the United States, and ERNST ing, and the cold air, often considerably below GLANTZBERG, a subject of the' King of Swezero, thoroughly chills the occupants of the 55 den and Norway, residing at Boston', in the apartment before the thermostat responds county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, and causes the cold air to be cut off and the have invented certain new and useful lmwarm air to be admitted. provements in Temperature-Regulators, of Our` invention is designed to obviatev the which the following is a specication. constant iiuctuation in temperature, and to 6o [o Our invention relates to temperature-reguthis end it consists in causing the movement lators, and consists in various features, deof the valve, damper, or other controlling details, and combinations hereinafter set forth vice to take-place gradually, orlittle by little, and claimed. opening or closing only so much as may be Under existing plans of temperature regunecessary to bring thc temperature to the re- 65 I5 lation a thermostat is usually employed vto quired degree and there leaving it at rest. close an electric circuit whenever the tem- This result we attain by introducing into the perature reaches apredetermined pointabove circuit in which the thermostat is included a or below the desired normal degree,such comdevice which shall normally open said circuit, pletion of 'the' circuit causing the energizabut which shall at stated intervals momen- 7o 2o tion of an electromagnet, by which a detent is tarily close the circuit at the point where it withdrawn to release a weight or to start a is located, so that if the thermostat makes motor for opening or closinga valve, damper, contact with either ofA its stops during such or Aother controlling device. Such arrangeclosure the circuit will be Vcompleted long ment involves the movement of the valve or enough to momentarily withdraw a detent 75 25 damper from one to the other limit of adjustand permit a weight, motor, or other device ment-that is to say,it is caused to fully open to move the valve or damper one short step Or to completely close at each completion of in the range of its movement. At each closg the electric circuit and to remain in the adjusting of the circuit-by and at the point Where mentlast given until the temperature changes the periodic circuit-closer is located the de- 8o 3o from one to the other limit of the range ofthe tent' will be Withdrawn, provided the thermothermostat. This sudden and extreme variastat still bears against one of its stops and tion in adjustment of the valve, damper, or thereby completes the circuit. Two detents other controlling device is highly objectionare provided, one in each branch of the therable, because it involves constantv fluctuation mostat circuit, one to release the opening and 85 35 in the temperature of the apartment. This the other to release the closing mechanism. didculty is particularly serious where the Hence the valve, damper, or other controlling valve controls the admission of cold air or of device will be gradually opened or gradually both cold and warm air, which is now a comclosed, as required, until the desired condimon and approved arrangement, designed to tion is attained. 9o 4o insure the constant introduction of abundant The accompanying drawings illustrate one quantities of air, either warm or cold, as may of many possible embodiments of our invenbe required. tion.

In cold climates the sudden and complete Figure lis a perspective View of the mechstoppage of the warm-air supply and full anism,'showing the periodic circuit-closer and 95 45 opening of the cold-air inlet causes the temcircuits diagrammatically; Fig. 2, a sectional perature of the apartment to drop suddenly View illustrating the arrangement of the airfrorn the highest point within the range of the iue and the valve controlling admission of thermostat to the lowest, and as soon as this Warm and of cold air; Figs. 3, 4, and 5,.detail lowest'point is reached a reversal of the valve views of the valve-actuating mechanism hereroc 5o occurs, causing a full supply of heated air inafter described.

and the rise of temperature to the highest Fig. 1 represents the parts Separated Somewhat more than is necessary in practice to render their action more clear.

As above intimated, the apparatus may be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of our invention, and the periodic circuit-closer may be of any usual or common form.

Referring again to the drawings, A indicates a chamber, in which is located a heater l, ot suitable description. The chamber B has at one side au inlet a for admission of fresh air, usually from outside the building, and at the opposite side two openings or two series of openings b and c, each connecting with a iiue C, through which air is carried to the apartment to be warmed.

D indicates a valve, one edge of which is hinged at the lower side of opening b, so that the valve may be brought to a vertical position and caused to close openingr b, thereby cutting olf the flow of warm air into and through the flue C; or the valve may be dropped until its free edge rests against the further wall of the flue, thereby opening the warm-air passage b and cutting ott the flow of cold air from opening c upward through tine C. This arrangement of valve and passages is set forth in Letters Patent to Isaac D. Smead, dated August 1, 1882, No. 261,879, and is here represented because the present invention is primarily intended to he usedin connection therewith, though not at all confined to such use or application.

It will be seen that by adjusting the valve to diiferent angles between its extremes of movement it is practicable to mingle the warm and cold air in any desired proportions in tine C, and hence we prefer to combine the regulating mechanism therewith.

As best shown in Figs. l and 8, we provide a shaft E, the ends of which are journaled and capable of rotation in suitable hangers or supports F. The shaft is or may be further sustained by a sleeve ol, formed upon a bracket G, secured to the wall of llue C or to other tirm support, said bracket being primarily intended, however, to support an electromagnet H, Figs. l, 3, and 4. I, in said figures, indicates a sprocket-wheel, or it may be a pulley, over which passes a chain or flexible band J, carrying at one end a weight K. The wheel I is made fast to shaft E by set-screw, key, or otherwise, as is also a ratchet-wheel L, the two being preferably made integral and secured by a single set-screw, as shown in Figs. l and 3. Ratchet-wheel L is located directly in plane with a soft iron keeper or armature M, pivotally supported at one end upon the spool or bobbin of electromagnet H, while its opposite end is normally thrown upward by a light spring f, and caused to engage with the teeth of ratchet-wheel L, and thereby to prevent the rotation of shaft E under the influence of weight K.

It will be readily understood that if the magnet II be momentarily energized and again immediately de-energized the armature or detent M will be withdrawn for an instant, permitting the ratchet-wheel L to advance one tooth and then to be relocked.

N indicatesasecond ratchet-wheel, likewise made fast to the shaft E by set-screw, key, or otherwise, and O is a sprocketl wheel or pulley, over which passes a chain orflexible band P, one end of which is connected with valve D, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The wheel O is loose upon the shaft E, and has formed upon or secured to it a projecting arm g, which carries an electromagnet Q with a pivoted armature R, similar to that of electromagnet Il, and arranged to engage with the teeth of ratchet-wheel N, except when withdrawn therefrom through energization of the magnet Q.

From what has been said `it will be apparent that whenever the ratchet-wheel L is permitted to advancethe shaft E and ratchetwheel N will move through a corresponding number' of degrees, and since the detent of electromagnet Q is normally in engagement with said ratchet-wheel the magnet Q, its bracket, and the wheel O will be caused to move with the shaft. In this way the chain or band P will be taken up and the valve D will be correspondingly elevated-that is to say, it will be advanced proportionately to the advance of one tooth of ratchet-wheel L. If this action be repeated a sufficient number of times the valve Dmay be carried from its lowest to its highest position, but such movement will be gradual and by repeated short steps. Itis particularly to be observed, however, that these steps are not necessarily and in all cases repeated, and that instead of always moving the valve from one eXtreme to the other, the movement may be, and ordinarily will be, only partial.

.Assuming now that electromagnet'll is deenergized and that electromagnet Q be momentarily energized and again quickly deenergized, the armature or detent R will be attracted by the magnet Q and withdrawn from engagement with ratchet-wheel N for an instant. During this momentary release, the detent or armature R, electromagnet Q, bracket g, and wheel O will advance by reason of the weight of valve D drawing down upon chain or band P, but the magnet Q being immediately de energized again its armature R is thrown outward bya light spring h and caused to engage with the next tooth of ratchetwheel N, thereby limiting the advance of said partsaud the descent of valve D.

Each repetition of the action just stated will permit the valve D to lowerl a short distance proportionate to one tooth of ratchetwheel N, but this action, like that of raising.r the valve, will take place only gradually, and to just such varying extent as required, usually less than complete lowering of the valve.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the circuitcontrolling devices by which the opening or closing of the valveis determined will be explained.

S indicates a clock mechanism, represented IOO l'IO

conventionally, and T indicates a circuit-closing disk or wheel having a contact-point t', adapted to make momentary contact once in each revolution with a contact-spring j included in the circuit of a battery U or other source of electric energy. There may be more than one contact-point t', if preferred, but whatever be the number they will be spaced or arranged with reference to the ktime required for one rotation of the disk T, so that contact shall be made with spring j at regular intervals. This result may be attained by regulating or adjusting the time mechanism to run fast or slow in any of the usual ways.

V indicates a thermostat, from which a wire or conductor extends to one binding-post of battery U. The movable end or portion of the thermostat (which is hererepresented as a compound bar ixed at one end) plays between two contact studs or screws Za and Z, the former set at such point that the thermostatic bar V shall make contact with .it when the temperature falls to a predetermined minimum-say 68 Fahrenheit. From the contactpoint' 7c a wire or conductor m passes to electromagnet Q and thence back to the disk T ofthe time device S. Hence if the thermostatbar V is in contact with point Za at the moment that the point Z makes contact with spring j, the electric circuitwill be completed from battery U by bar V to conductor m through the coils of electromagnet Q to disk T and through contacts Z and j back to battery U. Owing to the brief contact of points and j the circuit is interrupted almostas soon as it is completed, and hence armature R is attracted and released almost in the same instant. Thus it can clear-but one tooth of ratchet-wheel N and can lower valve D only a short distance. Hence the warmair inlet is ,but slightly increased and the parts remain in this position until the disk T travels far enough to again bring point 1l into contact with springj, at which time the operation just stated will be. repeated, provided the temperature of the apartment still remains at the predetermined low limit, still causing contactfof bar V with point K to be maintained. If, on the other hand, the temcause the bar V to move off contact K, the lowering of the valve will not be repeated. Thus it will be seen that at each contact of the point t' with springj during maintenance of contact of b'ar V with point Zrzthe valve D will be lowered one step, but the lowering will cease the moment contact is destroyed between Vand 7c, notwithstanding contact of t' and j, which recurs atstated periods, ordinarily about every ten minutes.

Assuming next that the temperature rises t'o a predetermined maximumsay 72 Fahrenheit-the bar V will move to and make contact with contact point or screw Z. A wire or conductor n passes from contact Z to the coils of electromagnet H, and thenceto disk H, and thence to disk T and through contacts Zj back to battery U. This circuit will be completed only for an instant, being quickly interrupted again by reason of point t' passing and breaking contact with spring j, as above explained.

During the energizationof magnet H, its armature M is withdrawn, permitting weight K to turn shaft E the distance represented by one tooth of ratchet-wheel L, but the magnet being at once de-energized the armature engages the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel and limits the rotation of the shaft and the consequent elevation of the valve D. Should the temperature continue at the predetermined maximum until the point rl is again brought into contact with springj, the action just recited will be repeated, but if the previous slight change of adjustment shall have caused the temperature to' fall below the predetermined Inaximum the bar V will have withdrawn from the point Zand hence the batterycircuit will not be completed, even though point 't' makes contact with spring l7.

The manner of conveying the current to electromagnet Q is of no particular importance, and may be by means of any common and convenient form of commutator. Ve have, however, shown the incoming and .'returning branches of wire 'm as insulated, and wound upon a spool O', formed with or secured to wheel O. The wheel O and spool O in in practice make onlya few revolutions at most, and the length ofconductor wound on and off the spool compensatcsfor this move- I ment and avoids injury of the conductor. cold-air inlet is but slightly decreased. The

and maximum, but this of course is wholly optional. It will befound convenient also to have contact made by the periodic circuiticloser at intervals of about ten minutes,

though the length of these intervals .may be t made greater or less as deemed expedient. perature has meanwhile risen sufficiently to The important features of the invention are the gradual adjustment of the valve and the limitation of its movement to accordwith the yrequirements of the case, as contradistinguished from arbitrary and unvarying movement from a full open to a full closed position, or viceversa.

Y-It is of course apparent that instead of weight K, any other convenient motor or IOO The weight or motor requires to be wound only at considerable intervals, which should be not less than twenty-four hours and may be much longer. As the shaft E turns backward during the winding operation and carries'with it the ratchet-wheel R, it is apparent that the valve will be free to fall, close the cold-air inlet and open the warm-air inlet, unless the wheel O be held at rest during the winding operation. This may readily be done with one hand, while the weight is raised with the other;but as the windingis onlyperformed at long intervals and as the apparatus automatically restores the valvey to proper position in a short time it is unimportant that the wheel O be held.

The mechanism herein set forth is merely illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, it 4being obvious that a brake or clutch of any form capable of promptly locking and releasing the parts may be substituted for the ratchet-wheels and pawls or detents shown.

Any form or system of heating apparatus may be used, and the regulation may be effected through a steam-valve, damper, or register, or otherwise, according to the system employed.

It is obvious, also, that instead of a single ""valve to control both the warm and cold air supply, or to regulate the supply of steam or heat, separate valves or dampers may be used.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim isl. In au apparatus for regulating temperature, the combination of a valve, damper, or other controlling device, means for imparting motion thereto, magnetically-controlled detents for normally holding the actuating means out of action; a generator or source of electric energy, a periodic circuit closer included in the battery circuit, and a thermostat in circuit with the battery and adapted, jointly with the periodic circuit closer, to close the circuit through the electro-magnet of one or the other of the detents whenever the temperature rises or falls to a predetermined limit.

2. The herein-described temperature regulating apparatus, consisting of a valve, damper or equivalent heat-controlling device, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft,awheel made fast upon said shaft, a stop adapted to engage said wheel, an electromagnet for withdrawing said stop, a second wheel made fast upon the shaft, a stop adapted to engage said second wheel, an electro -magnet for withdrawing said stop, a third wheel loosely mounted upon the shaft, carrying the second electro-magnet and stop, and normally held at rest thereby, a connection between said third wheel and the valve, damper or heatcontrolling device,a source of electric energy, a thermostat, independent circuits connecting the two electro-magnets with the source of energy, and a periodic circuit closer in circuit with the battery and with both the electromagnets.

3. In a temperature regulator, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by said shaft, a de tent for engaging said ratchet wheel, an electro-magnet for withdrawing said detent, a second ratchet wheel also carried by said shaft, a loose wheel mounted upon said shaft and provided with a locking device to engage the second ratchet wheel, an electro-magnet for withdrawing said locking device, a damper, valve, or heat-controlling device, a conncction between the loose Wheel and said heatcontrolling device, a periodic circuit closer and a therinostatic circuit closer, both included in circuit with a source of electric energy and with the said electro-magnets, all substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a heat-regulating apparatus, of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, a detent to hold said shaft against rotation, means for withdrawing said detent, a wheel loose upon said shaft, a locking device for locking said wheel to the shaft, a valve, damper or heat-controlling device, a connection between the heat controlling device and the loose wheel, and means for withdrawing the wheel-locking device and permitting said wheel to turn independently of the shaft. y

5. The combination in a heat-regulating apparatus, of a shaft, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, a detent to hold said shaft against rotation, awheel loose upon said shaft, a locking device for locking said wheel to the shaft, a valve, damper or heat-controlling device, a connection between the heatcontrolling device and the loose wheel,'and electro-magnets for withdrawing the detent or the locking device as required, and thereby permitting the shaft to turn and carry the loose wheel with it, or the loose wheel to turn independently of the shaft.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands lin the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. I-I. UNDERHILL. ERNST GLANTZBERG. Witnesses:

B. F. I-IURD, L. E. JORDAN.

IOC 

